Big 12 implosion again? A&M and Oklahoma looking at the SEC

by **MVCfans** » July 21st, 2011, 9:35 pm

There was quite a discussion during the conference realignments that occurred last year, but then the dust seemed to settle. Now, it sounds like Oklahoma and Texas A&M are miffed about the Longhorn television network and they are rumored to be exploring joining the SEC (again). If that occurred, what becomes of the remaining Big 12 teams?

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The continuing evolution of Texas’ place in the Big 12 will have far-reaching ramifications — including the most powerful conference in college football.

A source told Sporting News on Wednesday that both Texas A&M and Oklahoma are so concerned about rival Texas gaining a recruiting advantage with the newly formed Longhorn Network, the two institutions could turn to the SEC if the problems can’t be figured out. The core issue: The Longhorn Network will televise live high school football games in the state of Texas, an obvious recruiting advantage for Texas. (Ed. note: The Big 12 announced later Wednesday that those plans had been put on hold.)

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... z1SnlfyY4F

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by **MoValley John** » July 21st, 2011, 10:06 pm

I don't know where this will go, but I seriously believe that the Big XII, as we know it, will be dead within five years.

by **valleychamp** » July 21st, 2011, 10:10 pm

MoValley John wrote:I don't know where this will go, but I seriously believe that the Big XII, as we know it, will be dead within five years.

No doubt. That conference is a joke right now.

It will soon dissolve because of the whole Texas monopoly, and the remaining schools will split and end up in the SEC, Big East, CUSA (with MSU).

by **Aargh** » July 21st, 2011, 10:35 pm

I'll never get tired of this discussion. Here's how I see some schools shaking out - those best known to MVC fans

KU - Their basketball program will keep them in some BCS conference. Probably the BEast
KSU - WAC
UM - Can't see anything but CUSA for them. Neither FB nor BB is strong enough to be attractive to the elite conferences.
ISU - MAC - Taking that POS FB program down a level would sort of be a mercy killing.

The remnants of the former B12 North is at about the same FB level as the MVC.

The schools in the B12 have figured out that they pretty much have to take it from UT any way that UT wants to give it to them. UT could go indy. I don't think anybody wants them with all the strings that would be attached.

UT has so much money and access to so much money that they can do about anything.

by **valleychamp** » July 21st, 2011, 10:53 pm

I think Texas is only using the B12 to get their network up and running, and will eventually end up as an Independent. They have no reason to stay in the B12. Thy do not need that conference affiliation one bit.

It would be interesting to see where everybody ends up when it breaks down. I think the southern schools like OU and A&M, maybe Okie St would be SEC bound. KU's basketball program probably would get them in a BCS league. That would leave Baylor, ISU, KSU, and Mizzou. Who knows? CUSA, MWC, MAC are all options I suppose.

Maybe all of the North schools could team together and try to pluck a few smaller schools to form a new conference. KU, KSU, ISU, Mizzou, and maybe try and grab a few schools from CUSA, MAC, or MWC and see if they could get up to 9 or 10 teams.

by **ihsi** » July 22nd, 2011, 7:23 am

The remaining schools would be best served by trying to add Houston and SMU. The league would be a shell of its former self, but if the options would be Iowa State to the MAC and Tx Tech anf Baylor to CUSA, I could see where they'd try to do anything possible to keep the Big 12 alive in any form or fashion.

by **CaseyGarrisonforPrez** » July 22nd, 2011, 7:40 am

Aargh wrote:I'll never get tired of this discussion. Here's how I see some schools shaking out - those best known to MVC fans

KU - Their basketball program will keep them in some BCS conference. Probably the BEast
KSU - WAC
UM - Can't see anything but CUSA for them. Neither FB nor BB is strong enough to be attractive to the elite conferences.
ISU - MAC - Taking that POS FB program down a level would sort of be a mercy killing.

The remnants of the former B12 North is at about the same FB level as the MVC.

The schools in the B12 have figured out that they pretty much have to take it from UT any way that UT wants to give it to them. UT could go indy. I don't think anybody wants them with all the strings that would be attached.

UT has so much money and access to so much money that they can do about anything.

So many things that are wrong here, in my opinion. The last round of realignment proved that football is king and basketball is almost a third world sport. Kansas would be safe in a BCS conference most likely, but not just because of their basketball program. They won a BCS game within the last 4 years for goodness sakes. There is no way in the world that K-State would fall all the way to the WAC that is just absurd. They could likely find a home in the Big East like their brother or at worst the Mountain West.

Contending that Missou will go to CUSA takes the cake though. Their football program has finished in the top 25 3 out of the last 4 years, yet they have no attractiveness? I do not like them, but I can be fair in my analysis. Whatever axe you have to grind with K-State and Missou that is fine but be fair or risk being labeled absurd like I am when I go on a tangent (MSU to CUSA for example). And Iowa State, well they won a bowl game in 2009, they beat a mighty Big Ten team in the process. They struggled last season sure, but they are at a much higher level than the MAC. They beat Northern Illinois either last year or the year before as evidence.

To claim that those 4 schools are on par with the MVFC is the most absurd and incomprehensible thing ever posted on this message board. I could go into further analysis and highlight accomplishments of all four schools but am not going to take the time.

As for your point about the Longhorns and nobody wanting them. I think it is pretty clear that the Big Ten and Pac 10 wanted them and every other conference if they could get them Longhorn Network or not. I am not yet convinced that going independent is viable for Texas. It would really hurt scheduling for their other sports and it isn't like they could stay in the Big XII for those sports either.

by **CaseyGarrisonforPrez** » July 22nd, 2011, 7:51 am

ihsi wrote:The remaining schools would be best served by trying to add Houston and SMU. The league would be a shell of its former self, but if the options would be Iowa State to the MAC and Tx Tech anf Baylor to CUSA, I could see where they'd try to do anything possible to keep the Big 12 alive in any form or fashion.

Depends if this takes us to the Super Conference era immediately or not. If all of the BCS leagues go to 16 (with the Big XII being the one casualty) then I think all remaining Big XII teams would have homes in another BCS league. I don't think the situation is nearly as desperate as parts of the media and the folks at Orangebloods have made it seem. Uncertainty, yes but ISU won't end up in the MAC and K-State won't be in the WAC.

I'm not exactly sure why Cougar High would appeal to the Big XII? The Big XII willfully let TCU escape and UH has nowhere near the appeal. SMU has a lot of money and influence so down the road they might make sense, but probably not now. Air Force and BYU would be more likely in the worst case scenario.

by **CaseyGarrisonforPrez** » July 22nd, 2011, 7:55 am

valleychamp wrote:I think Texas is only using the B12 to get their network up and running, and will eventually end up as an Independent. They have no reason to stay in the B12. Thy do not need that conference affiliation one bit.

It would be interesting to see where everybody ends up when it breaks down. I think the southern schools like OU and A&M, maybe Okie St would be SEC bound. KU's basketball program probably would get them in a BCS league. That would leave Baylor, ISU, KSU, and Mizzou. Who knows? CUSA, MWC, MAC are all options I suppose.

Maybe all of the North schools could team together and try to pluck a few smaller schools to form a new conference. KU, KSU, ISU, Mizzou, and maybe try and grab a few schools from CUSA, MAC, or MWC and see if they could get up to 9 or 10 teams.

A couple of thoughts here. What appeal would Okie Lite have to the SEC? Boone Pickens money? Totally disagree with basketball being a factor for Kansas. Okie Lite and Taco Tech would be more in line for the Pac 12 than the SEC. Politically in the state of Texas, Baylor will not be left without a chair when the music stops and for that matter neither will Tech. There will be immeasurable pressure on UT from various political factions to keep them from going independent and fracturing the leauge. Don't misinterpret, it could happen UT could indy, but Texas state politics will make sure that everyone has a home.

by **ihsi** » July 22nd, 2011, 8:11 am

CaseyGarrisonforPrez wrote:I'm not exactly sure why Cougar High would appeal to the Big XII? The Big XII willfully let TCU escape and UH has nowhere near the appeal. SMU has a lot of money and influence so down the road they might make sense, but probably not now. Air Force and BYU would be more likely in the worst case scenario.

Assuming Texas A&M leaves and Texas going independent, adding Houston and SMU would make sense to add the Houston and Dallas markets.